Touch free automatic type water supply device and method

ABSTRACT

A touch free automatic type water supply device includes: a shell; first to third sensors adapted to sense an external object and then generate first to third sensing signals, respectively, wherein the first sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in a front direction of the shell, only the second sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in a side direction of the shell, and only the third sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in another side direction of the shell; an electronic control unit adapted receiving the first to third sensing signals and then generating driving signals, respectively; and a flow control unit, wherein according to the driving signals the flow control unit controls whether water is supplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed, or whether the supplied water temperature is changed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No.103131555, filed on Sep. 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to a touch free automatic type watersupply device and more particularly to a touch free automatic type watersupply device, which controls whether water is supplied, whether theflow rate of the supplied water is changed, whether temperature of thesupplied water is changed, or whether the supplied water is drained, bymeans of a touch free manner.

2. Related Art

In modern life, humans cannot but use water, and thus various watersupply devices are related to the humans. For example, a touch freeautomatic type water supply device is not only used conveniently, butalso avoid the contact pollution. Thus, the touch free automatic typewater supply device can increase the hygiene function and furthereconomize water. Accordingly, kitchen/bathroom apparatus makers do moreresearch for the touch free automatic type water supply device.

Recently, a touch free automatic type faucet generally has a single workmanner to control a switch of a solenoid valve of the touch freeautomatic type faucet by sheltering from an infrared ray sensor. Inother words, when a hand appears, the water is supplied; and when thehand disappears, the water is not supplied. This work manner is suitablefor a public place, but is not suitable for the place needs a long timeuse. For example, when a user needs to use the water in the sink forwashing his face at home, i.e., the water is required to be supplied fora long time, it is necessary for the hand or an external object tocontinuously shelter from the infrared ray sensor for a long time untilthere is enough water in the sink. Thus, it is not convenient for theuser, and the user cannot control the flow rate of the supplied waterand regulate the ratio of cold water to hot water during the use.

Accordingly, a need remains for a touch free automatic type water supplydevice to solve the foregoing problems.

SUMMARY

The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a touch freeautomatic type water supply device, which controls whether water issupplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed,whether the temperature of the supplied water is changed, or whether thesupplied water is drained, by means of a touch free manner.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present disclosure provides atouch free automatic type water supply device, comprising: a shellcomprising a supply outlet, a flow channel and an inlet, wherein thesupply outlet is communicated with the inlet through the flow channel;first to third sensors adapted to sense an external object and thengenerate first to third sensing signals, respectively, wherein the firstsensor is adapted to sense the external object located in a frontdirection of the shell, only the second sensor is adapted to sense theexternal object located in a side direction of the shell, and only thethird sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in anotherside direction of the shell; an electronic control unit electricallyconnected to the first to third sensors for receiving the first to thirdsensing signals and then generating driving signals, respectively; and aflow control unit communicated with the inlet of the shell, whereinaccording to the driving signals the flow control unit controls whetherwater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is supplied,whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed, or whether thesupplied water temperature is changed.

The touch free automatic type water supply device further comprises: afourth sensor disposed on the shell or the main control circuit boardfor sensing an external object located in a top direction of the shelland then generating a fourth sensing signal, wherein the electroniccontrol unit is electrically connected to the fourth sensor forreceiving the fourth sensing signal and then generating a drivingsignal; and a drain unit communicated with a drainage outlet of acontainer, and controlling whether the container is drained according tothe driving signal.

The touch free automatic type water supply device of the presentdisclosure controls whether water is supplied, whether the flow rate ofthe supplied water is changed, whether the temperature of the suppliedwater is changed, or whether the supplied water is drained, by means ofa touch free manner Specifically, the first sensor is adapted to sensethe external object located in the front direction of the shell, onlythe second sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in theside direction of the shell, only the third sensor is adapted to sensethe external object located in another side direction of the shell, andthe fourth sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in thetop direction of the shell, thereby controlling whether water issupplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed,whether the temperature of the supplied water is changed, or whether thesupplied water is drained. The display panel of the main control circuitboard of the electronic control unit of the present disclosure candisplay the flow rate and the temperature of the supplied water of thetouch free automatic type water supply device.

To make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages ofthe present disclosure clearer, detailed illustration is provided in thefollowing with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are left and right side plan schematic views of atouch free automatic type water supply device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, showing that the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is installed to a washbasin.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main control circuit board according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an auxiliary control circuit boardaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a left side plan schematic view of a touch free automatic typewater supply device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flow control unit according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d are top views of a touch free automatic type watersupply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,showing that a touch free automatic type water supply method includesfour examples of this embodiment.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are left side plan schematic views of a touch freeautomatic type water supply device according to a further embodiment ofthe present disclosure, showing a drain unit controls whether acontainer is drained.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are left and right side plan schematic views of atouch free automatic type water supply device according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are left side plan schematic views of a touch freeautomatic type water supply device according to the third embodiment ofthe present disclosure, showing a potable water control unit controlswhether potable water is supplied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawingswhich are given for illustration only, and thus are not limitative ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are left and right side plan schematic views of atouch free automatic type water supply device 100 according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, showing that the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is installed to a washbasin.Referring to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 includes a shell 110, first to third sensors 122 a,122 b, 122 c, an electronic control unit 120 and a flow control unit150. The shell 110 includes a supply outlet 112, a flow channel 114 andan inlet 116, wherein the supply outlet 112 is communicated with theinlet 116 through the flow channel 114.

The electronic control unit 120 includes a main control circuit board130 and an auxiliary control circuit board 140. The main control circuitboard 130 can be disposed on the shell 110 or embedded into the shell110, i.e., the main control circuit board 130 and the shell 110 can beintegrated to a single component. The first to third sensors 122 a, 122b, 122 c can be disposed on the main control circuit board 130 or theshell 110 for sensing an external object (e.g., a hand) and thengenerating first to third sensing signals, respectively. The electroniccontrol unit 120 is electrically connected to the first to third sensors122 a, 122 b, 122 c for receiving the first to third sensing signals andthen generating driving signals, respectively. The first to thirdsensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c can be infrared sensors or microwavesensors.

In this embodiment, the first sensor 122 a is disposed on the shell 110,the second sensor 122 b is disposed on the main control circuit board130, and the third sensor 122 c is disposed on the main control circuitboard 130. The first sensor 122 a is adapted to sense the externalobject located in a front direction of the shell 110 (e.g., in the frontdirection of the main control circuit board 130 or adjacent to thesupply outlet 112 of the shell 110); only the second sensor 122 b isadapted to sense the external object located in a side direction of theshell 110 (e.g., in the right side direction of the main control circuitboard 130); and, only the third sensor 122 c is adapted to sense theexternal object located in another side direction of the shell 110(e.g., in the left side direction of the main control circuit board130).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main control circuit board 130 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1 a and2, the main control circuit board 130 includes a first microprocessor132 (e.g., semiconductor chip), which is electrically connected to thefirst to third sensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c and receives the first tothird sensing signals and then generating control signals, respectively.The main control circuit board 130 further includes a display panel 134,which is electrically connected to the first microprocessor 132 fordisplaying the correlative information (e.g., the flow rate of thesupplied water or the temperature of the supplied water) of the touchfree automatic type water supply device 100. The main control circuitboard 130 further includes a first power source 138 (e.g., battery) forproviding electrical power to the main control circuit board 130.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an auxiliary control circuit board 140according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS.1 a and 3, the auxiliary control circuit board 140 includes a secondmicroprocessor 142 (e.g., semiconductor chip) adapted for receiving thecontrol signals and then generating the driving signals, respectively.The auxiliary control circuit board 140 further includes a second powersource 148 (e.g., battery) for providing electrical power to theauxiliary control circuit board 140.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the main control circuit board 130further includes a transmitter 133, which is electrically connected tothe first microprocessor 132 for transmitting the control signals. Theauxiliary control circuit board 140 further includes a receiver 143,which is electrically connected to the second microprocessor 142 forreceiving the control signals.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the electronic control unit120 further includes a signal connecting line 124 for electricallyconnecting the main control circuit board 130 to the auxiliary controlcircuit board 140, whereby the main control circuit board 130 and theauxiliary control circuit board 140 are integrated to a singlecomponent. At this time, the signal connecting line 124 can be acted fortransmitting and receiving the control signals (i.e., the signalconnecting line 124 replaces the transmitter 133 of the main controlcircuit board 130 and the receiver 143 of the auxiliary control circuitboard 140). Also, the signal connecting line 124 can be acted forproviding electrical power to the auxiliary control circuit board 140(i.e., the signal connecting line 124 replaces the second power source148 of the auxiliary control circuit board 140, and thus the first powersource 138 of the main control circuit board 130 can provide electricalpower to the auxiliary control circuit board 140 via the signalconnecting line 124).

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flow control unit 150 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1 a, 3 and5, the flow control unit 150 includes a valve core body 160, at leastone driving unit and at least one valve set, and further includes a coldwater inlet 162, a hot water inlet 164, a mix flow channel 166 and a mixflow outlet 168, wherein the mix flow outlet 168 is communicated withthe cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 164 through the mixflow channel 166.

In this embodiment, two driving units 152 a, 152 b (e.g., motors) areelectrically connected to the second microprocessor 142. Two valve sets154 a, 154 b are disposed in the valve core body 160, and are physicallyconnected to the mix flow channel 166. The driving units 152 a, 152 bdrive the valve sets 154 a, 154 b according to the driving signals,whereby the mixed water from cold water and hot water enters into theinlet 116 of the shell 110 so as to control whether water is supplied,whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed, or whether thesupplied water temperature is changed. Briefly, the flow control unit150 is communicated with the inlet 116 of the shell 110, and accordingto the driving signals the flow control unit 150 controls whether thewater of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100 issupplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed, orwhether the supplied water temperature is changed. The auxiliary controlcircuit board 140 further includes a temperature sensor 145 (shown inFIG. 3) for measuring the temperature of the mix flow outlet 168.

For example, the valve set 154 a can be a valve core made of metal. Thevalve core made of metal includes a screw nut, a control rod and athrottling plate. The screw nut can be screwed and mounted to the valvecore body 160 for mounting a lower portion of the control rod and thethrottling plate in the valve core body 160. The control rod isphysically connected to the throttling plate, and the lower portion ofthe control rod includes a chamber, which has apertures. The throttlingplate includes two tadpole shaped apertures, which are corresponding tothe cold water inlet 162 and the hot water inlet 164 respectively. Whenthe control rod rotates the throttling plate, the overlapping areabetween one of the two tadpole shaped apertures and the cold water inlet162 and the overlapping area between the other one of the two tadpoleshaped apertures and the hot water inlet 164 can be adjusted (i.e., theratio of the cold water of the cold water inlet 162 to the hot water ofthe hot water inlet 164 into the chamber of the valve set 154 a can beadjusted). Then, the mixed water in the chamber enters the mix flowchannel 166 through the apertures of the chamber. Thus, the valve set154 a is adapted to control whether water is supplied or whether thesupplied water temperature is changed.

For example, the valve set 154 b can also be a valve core made of metal,and a structure of the valve set 154 b is substantially the same as thatof the valve set 154 a. The valve core made of metal includes a screwnut, a control rod and a throttling plate. The screw nut is adapted formounting a lower portion of the control rod and the throttling plate inthe valve core body 160. A tadpole shaped aperture of the throttlingplate is corresponding to the other end of the mix flow channel 166.When the control rod rotates the throttling plate, the overlapping areabetween the two tadpole shaped aperture and the mix flow channel 166 canbe adjusted (i.e., the flow rate of the mixed water of the mix flowchannel 166 into the chamber of the valve set 154 b can be adjusted).Then, the mixed water in the chamber enters the mix flow outlet 168through the apertures of the chamber. Thus, the valve set 154 b isadapted to control whether water is supplied and whether the flow rateof the supplied water is changed.

A touch free automatic type water supply method includes the followingexamples of this embodiment:

The first example of this embodiment is an ON/OFF control mode:Referring to FIG. 6 a, when the first sensor 122 a senses an appearanceof the external object (e.g., a hand 104), the first sensing signal isan open signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 is supplied; and when the first sensor 122 a senses adisappearance of the external object, the first sensing signal is aclosed signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 is not supplied. For example, the first microprocessor132 receives the open signal or the closed signal, and then generates acontrol signal. The second microprocessor 142 receives the controlsignal, and then generates a driving signal. The driving unit 152 bdrives the valve set 154 b according to the driving signal, so as tocontrol whether the water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 is supplied.

The second example of this embodiment is also an ON/OFF control mode:Referring to FIG. 6 b, when only the second sensor 122 b senses a firstappearance and a first disappearance of the external object (e.g., ahand 104) within a first time (e.g., two seconds), the second sensingsignal is an open signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatictype water supply device 100 is supplied; and when only the secondsensor 122 b senses a second appearance and a second disappearance ofthe external object within the first time (e.g., two seconds), thesecond sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the touchfree automatic type water supply device 100 is not supplied. Forexample, the first microprocessor 132 receives the open signal or theclosed signal, and then generates a control signal. The secondmicroprocessor 142 receives the control signal, and then generates adriving signal. The driving unit 152 b drives the valve set 154 baccording to the driving signal, so as to control whether the water ofthe touch free automatic type water supply device 100 is supplied.

The third example of this embodiment is a Flow control mode. Referringto FIG. 6 c, when the water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 is supplied continuously (e.g., the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100 supplies the water in the watersupply status of the ON/OFF control mode of the first or second exampleof this embodiment) and only the second sensor 122 b senses anappearance of the external object (e.g., a hand 104) beyond a secondtime (e.g., three seconds can be preset), the second sensing signal is aflow increasing signal or a flow decreasing signal, whereby the flowrate of the supplied water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 is increased or decreased gradually, wherein the second timeis longer than the first time so as to prevent the touch free automatictype water supply device 100 from being kept in the water supply statusof the ON/OFF control mode of the second example; and when the flow rateof the supplied water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 is increased or decreased gradually and only the secondsensor 122 b senses a disappearance of the external object beyond thesecond time, the second sensing signal is a flow keeping signal, wherebythe flow rate of the supplied water of the touch free automatic typewater supply device 100 is kept. For example, the first microprocessor132 receives the flow increasing signal, the flow decreasing signal orthe flow keeping signal, and then generates a control signal. The secondmicroprocessor 142 receives the control signal, and then generates adriving signal. The driving unit 152 b drives the valve set 154 baccording to the driving signal, so as to control the flow rate of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100.

A flow increasing mode or a flow decreasing mode of the supplied waterof the touch free automatic type water supply device 100 indicates that:a plurality setting values are preset, the flow rate of the suppliedwater of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100 isincreased gradually from a lowest setting value to a highest settingvalue and then is decreased gradually from the highest setting value tothe lowest setting value, repetitiously. For example, the first, second,third, fourth and fifth setting values are preset, the flow rate of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100is increased gradually from the first, second, third and fourth settingvalues to the fifth setting value and then is decreased gradually fromthe fifth, fourth, third and second setting values to the first settingvalue, repetitiously. For example, the first setting value is preset to10 liter/minute, and the flow rate difference between two setting valuesis 2 liters/minute, i.e., the first setting value is the lowest settingvalue which is preset to 10 liters/minute, and the fifth setting valueis the highest setting value which is preset to 18 liters/minute.

The fourth example of this embodiment is a temperature control mode.Referring to FIG. 6 d, when the water of the touch free automatic typewater supply device 100 is supplied continuously (e.g., the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100 supplies the water in the watersupply status of the ON/OFF control mode of the first or second exampleof this embodiment) and only the third sensor 122 c senses an appearanceof the external object (e.g., a hand 104) beyond a third time (e.g.,three seconds can be preset), the third sensing signal is a temperatureincreasing signal or a temperature decreasing signal, whereby atemperature of the supplied water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 is increased or decreased gradually: and when thetemperature of the supplied water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device 100 is increased or decreased gradually and only the thirdsensor 122 c senses a disappearance of the external object beyond thethird time, the third sensing signal is a temperature keeping signal,whereby the temperature of the supplied water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100 is kept. For example, the firstmicroprocessor 132 receives the temperature increasing signal, thetemperature decreasing signal or the temperature keeping signal, andthen generates a control signal. The second microprocessor 142 receivesthe control signal, and then generates a driving signal. The drivingunit 152 a drives the valve set 154 a according to the driving signal,so as to control the temperature of the supplied water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100.

A temperature increasing mode or a temperature decreasing mode of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100indicates that: a plurality setting values are preset, the temperatureof the supplied water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 is increased gradually from a lowest setting value to ahighest setting value and then is decreased gradually from the highestsetting value to the lowest setting value, repetitiously. For example,the first, second, third, fourth and fifth setting values are preset,the temperature of the supplied water of the touch free automatic typewater supply device 100 is increased gradually from the first, second,third and fourth setting values to the fifth setting value and then isdecreased gradually from the fifth, fourth, third and second settingvalues to the first setting value, repetitiously. For example, the firstsetting value is preset to 25 degrees centigrade, and the temperaturedifference between two setting values is 5 degrees centigrade, i.e., thefirst setting value is the lowest setting value which is preset to 25degrees centigrade, and the fifth setting value is the highest settingvalue which is preset to 45 degrees centigrade.

According to the temperature control mode in the fourth example of thisembodiment, when the water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 start to supply in the current use, the temperature of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100must be increased gradually from the lowest setting value (e.g., 25degrees), so as to prevent the temperature of the supplied water of thetouch free automatic type water supply device 100 from being high in theprevious use.

Referring to FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, in a further embodiment, the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100 further includes a fourth sensor122 d and a drain unit 180. The fourth sensor 122 d can be disposed onthe shell 110 or the main control circuit board 130 for sensing anexternal object (e.g., a hand 104) located in a top direction of theshell 110 (i.e., above the main control circuit board 130) and thengenerating a fourth sensing signal. The electronic control unit 120 iselectrically connected to the fourth sensor 122 d (e.g., the fourthsensor 122 d which is electrically connected to the first microprocessor132 of the main control circuit board 130 is the same as the first tothird sensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c which are electrically connected tothe first microprocessor 132 of the main control circuit board 130 shownin FIG. 2) for receiving the fourth sensing signal and then generating adriving signal. The drain unit 180 is communicated with a drainageoutlet 108 of a container 106 (e.g., a washbasin), and controls whetherthe container 106 is drained according to the driving signal. The fourthsensor 122 d can be an infrared sensor or a microwave sensor.

The drain unit 180 includes a transmission 184, a stopper 182 and adriver 186. The driver 186 is electrically connected to the secondmicroprocessor 142 of the auxiliary control circuit board 140 through asignal connection line (not shown). For example, the stopper 182 can bescrewed to a front end of the transmission 184, e.g., an inner thread ofthe stopper 182 is screwed to an outer thread of the front end of thetransmission 184. The driver 186 is mechanically connected to thetransmission 184 by means of a helical thread.

A rotary motion of the driver 186 is transformed to a linear motion ofthe transmission 184 by means of the helical thread having a function ofa lipstick that the rotary motion can be transformed to the linearmotion.

A touch free automatic type drain step includes the following example ofthis embodiment: Referring to FIG. 7 a, when the fourth sensor 122 dsenses an appearance of the external object, the fourth sensing signalis an open signal, whereby the container 106 is drained; and referringto FIG. 7 b when the fourth sensor 122 d senses a disappearance of theexternal object beyond a predetermined time (e.g., 1 minute), the fourthsensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the container 106 is notdrained. For example, the first microprocessor 132 receives the opensignal or the closed signal, and then generates a control signal. Thesecond microprocessor 142 receives the control signal, and thengenerates a driving signal. The driver 186 drives the transmission 184and the stopper 182 according to the driving signal, so as to controlwhether the container 106 is drained. The drain unit 180 of the presentdisclosure can keep closing the drainage outlet 108 of the container 106so as to avoid the leakage of smelly gas under the drain unit 180.

The touch free automatic type water supply device of the presentdisclosure controls whether water is supplied, whether the flow rate ofthe supplied water is changed, whether the temperature of the suppliedwater is changed, or whether the supplied water is drained, by means ofa touch free manner. Specifically, the first sensor is adapted to sensethe external object located in the front direction of the shell, onlythe second sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in theside direction of the shell, only the third sensor is adapted to sensethe external object located in another side direction of the shell, andthe fourth sensor is adapted to sense the external object located in thetop direction of the shell, thereby controlling whether water issupplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water is changed,whether the temperature of the supplied water is changed, or whether thesupplied water is drained. The display panel of the main control circuitboard of the electronic control unit of the present disclosure candisplay the flow rate and the temperature of the supplied water of thetouch free automatic type water supply device.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are left and right side plan schematic views of atouch free automatic type water supply device 100′ according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 8 a and8 b, the touch free automatic type water supply device 100′ includes ashell 110, an electronic control unit 120′ and a flow control unit 150.The touch free automatic type water supply device 100′ of the secondembodiment is similar to the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100 of the first embodiment, and the similar elements have beendesignated by similar reference numbers. The differences between thetouch free automatic type water supply device 100′ of the secondembodiment and the touch free automatic type water supply device 100 ofthe first embodiment is that: the main control circuit board 130′ of thetouch free automatic type water supply device 100′ in the secondembodiment is not disposed on the shell 110 or embedded into the shell110, i.e., the main control circuit board 130′ and the shell 110 aredistributed into two components independently.

In this embodiment, the first to fourth sensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c, 122d are disposed on the main control circuit board 130′, and are adaptedto sense an external object (e.g., a hand) located and then generatingthe first to fourth sensing signals, respectively. The first sensor 122a is disposed on the main control circuit board 130′, and thus the firstsensor 122 a cannot be far from the supply outlet 112 of the shell 110,thereby avoiding a sensing failure when the first sensor 122 a sensesthe external object located under the supply outlet 112 of the shell;only the second sensor 122 b (shown in FIG. 8 a) is adapted to sense theexternal object located in the side direction of the main controlcircuit board 130′ (e.g., in the right side direction of the shell 110);only the third sensor 122 c (shown in FIG. 8 b) is adapted to sense theexternal object located in the other side direction of the main controlcircuit board 130′ (e.g., in the left side direction of the shell 110);and the fourth sensor 122 d is adapted to sense the external objectlocated in the top direction of the main control circuit board 130′(e.g., in the top direction of the shell 110).

The main control circuit board 130′ and the shell 110 are distributedinto two components independently, and thus the main control circuitboard 130′ can be mounted to a suitable position or moved at any timeaccording to the necessity of a user, so as to have the convenience.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 bare left side plan schematic views of a touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100″ according to the thirdembodiment of the present disclosure, showing that the touch freeautomatic type water supply device 100″ is installed to a washbasin. Thetouch free automatic type water supply device 100″ of the thirdembodiment is similar to the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100′ of the second embodiment, and the similar elements have beendesignated by similar reference numbers. Referring to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b,the differences between the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100″ of the third embodiment and the touch free automatic typewater supply device 100′ of the second embodiment is that: the touchfree automatic type water supply device 100″ further includes a fifthsensor 122 e and a potable water control unit 190. The shell 110″further includes another supply outlet 113, another flow channel 115 andanother inlet 117, wherein the supply outlet 113 is communicated withthe inlet 117 through the flow channel 115. An end of the potable watercontrol unit 190 is communicated with the inlet 117 of the shell 110″,and the other end of the potable water control unit 190 is communicatedwith a potable water source 191 (e.g., RO (reverse osmosis) watersource).

The fifth sensor 122 e can be disposed on the main control circuit board130 or the shell 110″ for sensing an external object (e.g., a hand 104)located in a top direction of the main control circuit board 130″ andthen generating a fifth sensing signal. The electronic control unit 120″is electrically connected to the fifth sensor 122 e (e.g., the fifthsensor 122 e which is electrically connected to the first microprocessor132 of the main control circuit board 130″ is the same as the first tothird sensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c which are electrically connected tothe first microprocessor 132 of the main control circuit board 130 shownin FIG. 2) for receiving the fifth sensing signal and then generating adriving signal.

The potable water control unit 190 is electrically connected to thesecond microprocessor 142 of the auxiliary control circuit board 140″through another signal connection line (not shown). The potable watercontrol unit 190 is communicated with the inlet 117 of the shell 110″,and controls whether the potable water is supplied according to thedriving signal. The fifth sensor 122 e can be an infrared sensor or amicrowave sensor. The potable water control unit 190 can be a solenoidvalve.

A touch free automatic type potable water supply step includes thefollowing example of this embodiment: Referring to FIG. 9 a, when thefifth sensor 122 e senses an appearance of an external object (e.g., ahand 104), the fifth sensing signal is a potable water open signal,whereby the potable water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice 100″ is supplied; and referring to FIG. 9 b, when the fifthsensor 122 e senses a disappearance of the external object, the fifthsensing signal is a potable closed signal, whereby the potable water ofthe touch free automatic type water supply device 100″ is not supplied.For example, the first microprocessor 132 receives the potable wateropen signal or the potable water closed signal, and then generates acontrol signal. The second microprocessor 142 receives the controlsignal, and then generates a driving signal. The potable water controlunit 190 controls whether the potable water of the touch free automatictype water supply device 100″ is supplied according to the drivingsignal.

IF the first to third sensors 122 a, 122 b, 122 c and the flow controlunit 150 of the touch free automatic type water supply device 100″ ofthe present disclosure are adapted to controls whether city water issupplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied city water is changed orwhether temperature of the supplied city water is changed, the fifthsensor 122 e and the potable water control unit 190 of the presentdisclosure are adapted to controls whether the potable water issupplied. Thus, the touch free automatic type water supply device 100″of the present disclosure can control whether the city water and thepotable are supplied respectively.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the implementationmanners or embodiments of the technical solutions adopted by the presentdisclosure to solve the problems and it's not desired to limit the scopeof the disclosure. Accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch free automatic type water supply device,comprising: a shell comprising a supply outlet, a flow channel and aninlet, wherein the supply outlet is communicated with the inlet throughthe flow channel; first to third sensors adapted to sense an externalobject and then generate first to third sensing signals, respectively,wherein the first sensor is adapted to sense the external object locatedin a front direction of the shell, only the second sensor is adapted tosense the external object located in a side direction of the shell, andonly the third sensor is adapted to sense the external object located inanother side direction of the shell; an electronic control unitelectrically connected to the first to third sensors for receiving thefirst to third sensing signals and then generating driving signals,respectively; and a flow control unit communicated with the inlet of theshell, wherein according to the driving signals the flow control unitcontrols whether water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice is supplied, whether the flow rate of the supplied water ischanged, or whether the supplied water temperature is changed.
 2. Thetouch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 1,wherein the electronic control unit comprises: a main control circuitboard comprising a first microprocessor, which is electrically connectedto the first to third sensors and receives the first to third sensingsignals and then generating control signals, respectively; and anauxiliary control circuit board comprising a second microprocessoradapted for receiving the control signals and then generating thedriving signals, respectively.
 3. The touch free automatic type watersupply device according to claim 2, wherein the main control circuitboard and the auxiliary control circuit board are integrated to a singlecomponent.
 4. The touch free automatic type water supply deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the main control circuit board and theshell are integrated to a single component.
 5. The touch free automatictype water supply device according to claim 2, wherein the main controlcircuit board and the shell are distributed into two componentsindependently.
 6. The touch free automatic type water supply deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the first to third sensors are disposed onthe main control circuit board or the shell.
 7. The touch free automatictype water supply device according to claim 1, wherein: when the firstsensor senses an appearance of the external object, the first sensingsignal is an open signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatictype water supply device is supplied; and when the first sensor senses adisappearance of the external object, the first sensing signal is aclosed signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device is not supplied.
 8. The touch free automatic type watersupply device according to claim 7, wherein: when only the second sensorsenses a first appearance and a first disappearance of the externalobject within a first time, the second sensing signal is an open signal,whereby the water of the touch free automatic type water supply deviceis supplied; and when only the second sensor senses a second appearanceand a second disappearance of the external object within the first time,the second sensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of thetouch free automatic type water supply device is not supplied.
 9. Thetouch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 8,wherein: when the water of the touch free automatic type water supplydevice is supplied continuously and only the second sensor senses anappearance of the external object beyond a second time, the secondsensing signal is a flow increasing signal or a flow decreasing signal,whereby the flow rate of the supplied water of the touch free automatictype water supply device is increased or decreased gradually, whereinthe second time is longer than the first time; and when the flow rate ofthe supplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply deviceis increased or decreased gradually and only the second sensor senses adisappearance of the external object beyond the second time, the secondsensing signal is a flow keeping signal, whereby the flow rate of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply device iskept.
 10. The touch free automatic type water supply device according toclaim 9, wherein a flow increasing mode or a flow decreasing mode of thesupplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply deviceindicates that: a plurality setting values are preset, the flow rate ofthe supplied water of the touch free automatic type water supply deviceis increased gradually from a lowest setting value to a highest settingvalue and then is decreased gradually from the highest setting value tothe lowest setting value, repetitiously.
 11. The touch free automatictype water supply device according to claim 8, wherein: when the waterof the touch free automatic type water supply device is suppliedcontinuously and only the third sensor senses an appearance of theexternal object beyond a third time, the third sensing signal is atemperature increasing signal or a temperature decreasing signal,whereby a temperature of the supplied water of the touch free automatictype water supply device is increased or decreased gradually; and whenthe temperature of the supplied water of the touch free automatic typewater supply device is increased or decreased gradually and only thethird sensor senses a disappearance of the external object beyond thethird time, the third sensing signal is a temperature keeping signal,whereby the temperature of the supplied water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is kept.
 12. The touch free automatictype water supply device according to claim 11, wherein a temperatureincreasing mode or a temperature decreasing mode of the supplied waterof the touch free automatic type water supply device indicates that: aplurality setting values are preset, the temperature of the suppliedwater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is increasedgradually from a lowest setting value to a highest setting value andthen is decreased gradually from the highest setting value to the lowestsetting value, repetitiously.
 13. The touch free automatic type watersupply device according to claim 2, further comprising: a fourth sensordisposed on the shell or the main control circuit board for sensing anexternal object located in a top direction of the shell and thengenerating a fourth sensing signal, wherein the electronic control unitis electrically connected to the fourth sensor for receiving the fourthsensing signal and then generating a driving signal; and a drain unitcommunicated with a drainage outlet of a container, and controllingwhether the container is drained according to the driving signal. 14.The touch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 13,wherein: when the fourth sensor senses an appearance of the externalobject, the fourth sensing signal is an open signal, whereby thecontainer is drained; and when the fourth sensor senses a disappearanceof the external object beyond a predetermined time, the fourth sensingsignal is a closed signal, whereby the container is not drained.
 15. Thetouch free automatic type water supply device according to claim 2,wherein the main control circuit board further comprises a displaypanel, which is electrically connected to the first microprocessor fordisplaying the flow rate of the supplied water or the temperature of thesupplied water.
 16. The touch free automatic type water supply deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising: a fifth sensor disposed on themain control circuit board or the shell for sensing an external objectlocated in a top direction of the main control circuit board and thengenerating a fifth sensing signal; and a potable water control unitcommunicated with the inlet of the shell, and controlling whether thepotable water is supplied according to the driving signal.
 17. The touchfree automatic type water supply device according to claim 16, wherein:when the fifth sensor senses an appearance of the external object, thefifth sensing signal is a potable water open signal, whereby the potablewater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is supplied;and when the fifth sensor senses a disappearance of the external object,the fifth sensing signal is a potable closed signal, whereby the potablewater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is notsupplied.
 18. A touch free automatic type water supply method,comprising the following steps of: providing a first sensor and a secondsensor adapted to sense an external object and then generate a firstsensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively; when the firstsensor senses an appearance of the external object, the first sensingsignal is an open signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatictype water supply device is supplied; when the first sensor senses adisappearance of the external object, the first sensing signal is aclosed signal, whereby the water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device is not supplied; when only the second sensor senses afirst appearance and a first disappearance of the external object withina first time, the second sensing signal is an open signal, whereby thewater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is supplied;and when only the second sensor senses a second appearance and a seconddisappearance of the external object within the first time, the secondsensing signal is a closed signal, whereby the water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is not supplied.
 19. The touch freeautomatic type water supply method according to claim 18, furthercomprising the following steps of: when the water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is supplied continuously and only thesecond sensor senses an appearance of the external object beyond asecond time, the second sensing signal is a flow increasing signal or aflow decreasing signal, whereby the flow rate of the supplied water ofthe touch free automatic type water supply device is increased ordecreased gradually, wherein the second time is longer than the firsttime; and when the flow rate of the supplied water of the touch freeautomatic type is increased or decreased gradually and only the secondsensor senses a disappearance of the external object beyond the secondtime, the second sensing signal is a flow keeping signal, whereby theflow rate of the supplied water of the touch free automatic type watersupply device is kept.
 20. The touch free automatic type water supplymethod according to claim 18, further comprising the following steps of:providing a third sensor adapted to sense the external object and thengenerate a third sensing signal; when the water of the touch freeautomatic type water supply device is supplied continuously and only thethird sensor senses an appearance of the external object beyond a thirdtime, the third sensing signal is a temperature increasing signal or atemperature decreasing signal, whereby a temperature of the suppliedwater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is increasedor decreased gradually; and when the temperature of the supplied waterof the touch free automatic type water supply device is increased ordecreased gradually and only the third sensor senses a disappearance ofthe external object beyond the third time, the third sensing signal is atemperature keeping signal, whereby the temperature of the suppliedwater of the touch free automatic type water supply device is kept.